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Saturday, 20 January 2018

Gone in...7 years: How Nicolas Cage blew his $150m fortune by purchasing multiple houses, a 'haunted mansion', a dinosaur skull and the Shah of Iran's Lamborghini

Cage, 54, acquired a $150m fortune by starring in movies such as 'National Treasure' and 'Leaving Las Vegas'

At one point, the actor owned 15 homes including a $25million waterfront home in Newport Beach, California and a 'haunted' mansion in New Orleans

He's also purchased some extravagant items including shrunken heads, a dinosaur skull and the Shah of Iran's Lamborghini

After owing millions of dollars to the IRS, Cage is now worth about $25million

Nicolas Cage was once one of Hollywood's top earners, with movies such as 'National Treasure' and 'Leaving Las Vegas' making him an A-List star.

Cage, 54, acquired a $150million fortune and soon became the most infamous Hollywood, quickly squandering his fortune.

From an $8million castle to $25million homes, from dinosaur skulls to shrunken heads, he soon faced goreclosure on several properties and owing the IRS more than $14million.

Now worth around $25million, the Academy Award-winning actor is taking roles left and right to help pay off his debts.

Here is a look at some of Cage's craziest purchases:

Nicolas Cage (pictured, Friday) was once one of Hollywood's top earners with his movies fetching him a $150million fortune before he spent it all

FIFTEEN HOUSES

At one point, Cage owned 15 homes, including a $25million waterfront home in Newport Beach, California, a $15.7 million countryside estate in Newport, Rhode Island, and an $8.5 million abode in Las Vegas.

Other properties included a chalet in Aspen, Colorado and homes in San Francisco, New York, and Venice Beach.

At one point, Cage owned 15 homes, including a $25million waterfront home in Newport Beach, California, and an $8.5million abode in Las Vegas (Pictured, the master bedroom of the La Vegas home previously owned by Cage)

He also acquired the infamous LaLaurie mansion (pictured) in New Orleans in 2006 for $3.45million, which allegedly belonged to a socialite serial killer

He also acquired the infamous LaLaurie mansion in New Orleans in 2006 for $3.45million.

According to legend, the haunted house belonged to a socialite serial killer named Madame LaLaurie, who would kill and torture slaves in the 1800s.

PYRAMID TOMB

Cage actually had a pyramid tomb constructed for him in New Orleans near his reportedly haunted mansion.

This nine-foot tall pyramid tombstone is engraved with 'Omni Ab Uno', Latin for 'Everything From One.'

The actor himself has chosen to remain silent about his reasoning for the flamboyant tomb. Some speculate it's an homage to the 'National Treasure' movie franchise.

Cage had a nine-foot tall pyramid tomb constructed for him in New Orleans and it is engraved with 'Omni Ab Uno', Latin for 'Everything From One'

EXOTIC ANIMALS

Cage began collecting animals early in his career. In addition to owning two albino king cobras, which he purchased for $270,000 Cage also owned water-dwelling creatures.

He reportedly spent $150,000 on a pet octopus as an 'acting aid'. Cage also owned a shark and a crocodile.

Cage purchased a number of animals as pets including an octopus a shark and ntwo albino king cobras (pictured, file image), which he purchased for $270,000

THE SHAH OF IRAN'S LAMBORGHINI

Cage purchased the 1971 Lamborghini Miura SVJ for $450,000 at an auction in 1997, hot off the successes of 'Con Ai'r and 'Face/Off'.

The car only had one previous owner, the late Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and had fewer than 2,000 miles on it.

The Lamborghini was built to Pahlavi's special order and secretly delivered to his St Moritz chalet for a ski vacation before Christmas 1971.

Cage purchased the 1971 Lamborghini Miura SVJ (pictured, file image) that previously belonged to the late Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for $450,000 at an auction in 1997